Belt tension equalizing device



Feb. 24, 1953 c KUNGENS 2,629,263

BELT TENSION EQUAIJIZING DEVICE Filed Sept. 25, 1950 INVENTOR: C ZORNELIS KLINGENS ATT'YS Patented Feb. 24, 1953 BELT TENSION EQUALIZING DEVICE Cornelis Klingcns, La Porte, Ind., assignor to U. S.

Slicing Machine Company, Inc., La Porte, Ind.,

a corporation of Indiana Application September 25, 1950, Serial No. 186,648

8 Claims.

The improved belt tightening and equalizing apparatus comprising the present invention is primarily adapted for use in connection with food slicing machines of the type shown and described in my copending application, Serial No.186,646, filed of even date herewith. The invention is however capable of other uses and the same may if desired be employed, with or without modification, in connection with other slicing machines of the type employing aknife box having disposed therein the driving connections for connecting the motorshaft to the knife shaft.

It is among the principal objects ofthe present invention to provide a driving connection of the belt and pulley typebetween the driving motor shaft and the knife shaft of a slicing machine and including an idler pulley assembly which operates not only to transmit motion from the belt which passes over the motor shaft pulley to the belt which passes over the knife shaft pulley, but which at the same time operates to equalize the tension of both belts as well as to take up any slack which might from time to time otherwise occur in either belt.

Y Afurther and importantobject of the invenmechanism for slicing machines of the type outlined above in which the operative parts thereof are small and compact and may readily occupy a position within the knife box without consuming too much space.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a novel type of floating bearing assembly for the idler pulley construction associated with the driving mechanism for the slicing knife, which assembly is extremely simple in its construction and may consequently be manufactured at a low cost.

A still further object of the invention is to provide such a floating bearing assembly in which the parts thereof are readily disassembled from the slicing machine knife box for the purpose of inspection, repair or substitution.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a floating bearing which is rugged and durable and which consequently is unlikely to get out has been applied.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the plane indicated by the line 22 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a floating mounting piece employed in connection with the present invention and showing the manner in which it is mounted within the knife box casing.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the food slicing machine to which the'present belt tightening apparatus is applied is substantially identical with that shown in the above mentioned copending application. This machine involves in its general organization a supporting structure or main frame Ill (Fig. 1), which may be formed as an aluminum or other metallic casting. The frame Hi includes a base l2 and an upstanding casing I 4 having a motor housing section It adapted to enclose therein the driving motor M for the usual circular rotary knife l8 which is supported for rotation about an inclined axis within a knife box 20 integrally formed and projecting laterally from the motor housing IB. An inclined food table 22 of the V-shapecl gravity feed type is arranged perpendicular to the slicing knife [8 so that a block of foodstuff carried on the food. table will be fed by gravity to the cutting plane of the knife for cutting slices from the piece of foodstuff. The inclined food table removably mounted on a bracket 24 which isconnected to a slidable carriage 26 whereby the food table may be reciprocated in a linear path. A gauge plate 28 is provided for the purpose of gauging the thickness of slices to be cut from the foodstuff by the slicing knife l8. A food pusher 30 is adapted to cooperate with the food table for the purpose of assisting the block of foodstuff to move by gravity down the food table toward the slicing knife. A slice receiving table (not shown) is disposed beneath and behind the plane of the cutting knife and gauge plate for the purpose of receiving thereon slices of foodstuff severed from the main body thereof. A knife sharpener mechanism designated in its entirety at 3! is provided for the purpose of sharpening and burring the edge of the circular knife l8 when required.

No claim is made herein to the arrangement of parts briefly outlined above, the same being covered either in my previously mentioned copending application or in my other copending applications, Serial Nos. 186,647, 186,649, and 186,650, filed of even date herewith, the novelty of the present invention residing rather in the novel construction and arrangement of the knife box 20 and the belt tightening mechanism which it encloses and which will subsequently be more fully described and claimed.

Referring now to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the knife box 20 forms a part of the main frame or casting I and is provided with a bottom 23 of irregular shape. The bottom 23 is formed with an upstanding'boss 30 thereon which constitutes the outer confining tubular portion of an anti-friction bearing assembly 32 by means of which the knife shaft 34, to which the knife 18 is secured, is rotatably mounted. The knife shaft 34 has mounted thereon a knife pulley 36which isop- V eratively connected by means ofa belt -38-to.a relatively small idler pulley 40 which may be integrally formed with or otherwise secured to a relatively large pulley 42, the pulley assembly 40, 42 being rotatably journalled on a stub shaft 44 carried by a floating plate 46 which is loosely dispose d.-within the knife box :20 and the nature and, function of which will subsequently be described. A belt 48 passes,over the pulley 42 and OVQI'QEI'ImOtOI' shaft pulley 59 mounted on the motor shaft of themotor M. Thus, it will be gseen that-up on energization; of the motor ,M and bsequent rotation of its shaft 52 a drive will :eX istfrom'the shaft 52 through the pulleys so,

.42. Ata d .36 to the k i shaft .34.

As previously set forth, the supporting plate -46 for the stub shaft is loosely disposed within the knife box '20,'and it may be referred to as a floating plate. The plate .45 is in the form of a :flatsheet of metal which is generally rectangular in shapeandthe four sides thereof have been designated at;52, 54, 56 and 58, respectively. The underneath surface of the plate ,45 in the vicinity of the corner-thereof defined by the sides 52 and Y54 is adapted to rest onan upstanding his or supportfiflintegrally formed with the knife box casting and having a flat upper surface :62 designedfor face-to-face contactwith the under- ;neath-s urface f the plate 146. A -well;portion-64 exist b ne t t epnlley assembly 40, 142 and acreom date the e e tion of, the extrem lower find-9f .thestub haft 44 to ether with fastenin n eans, ,by means of which itisattached to the 5P1 the :bOPtQm 1 .thek box :Zfland forms aipi tal .-a -xis-,as%ih1 Wh ch-themes ,52 of theplate te 6- .A,-.piv0 pin .5 pr je ts .upward1y;from

daptedr o bee :50 ztha et e plat .4 asa a supportfor the plate 46astrap'10 extends over the plate 46 in the vicinity of the edge 58 thereof and has its ends secured in a suitable manner,

as for example, by screws 12, one of which exttends into-the bottom wall of the knife-b0x 20 and the other of which may extend into the upper endof thepivotpinIB. A coil spring 'whas one end thereof secured toan ear [8 provided; on the edge5 6 of the plate 46 and has itsothermend anchored as at l9 tothe bottom wall of the knife From ,the. above 3 description of parts it ;may be seen-that theplateAfi andits attached pivot pin Ma con n d i h n th if box 1- o vlim- --it d s in mo emen on e 5 and st ap and hat t e plate A6 normal y ur ed by ,zmea se th sprin .16 in a dire t on h h i tend to apply-tensiontolbeth ef-thebe ts-3 -an 44 by confining-the end of the plate-adjacent the side 58 and preventing vertical movement thereof away from the bottom of the knife box 20. In

the. operation of the belt tightening mechanism,

when the motor'M is energized and the slicing machine is, in operation the belt 38 exerts a pull .on the upper end of the stub shaft 44 tending to slide the floating plate 46 from beneath the bracket -l0. The belt 48 exerts a pull on the lower regions of the stub shaft 44 tending to pull the plate 46 in a direction wherein the edge 52 thereof will engage the pin 66. The spring 16, however, exerts a force on=the platet46from the edgefit thereof which ispcountereto ,h,e forces exertedrby the two belts, and 48 andthusan equalizing force is exerted onthe-stubshaft 44 which serves to maintain'bothl of theibelts taut. The tendency for the fioating plate .46is tobear downwardly against the fiat upper ,surfaceofthe upstanding 111g fifiandbear upwardlyagainstthe underneath surface ofthe strap 10. As either belt38 or 48,.or both belts, becomeselongateddm to constant usage, any slack that ordinarily would exist by virtue of such elongation is automatically taken up by the stub .shaft 44 and its associated idler pulleys 40, and thusthroughout the life of the belts 38,48 littleor no attention need be given them.

Changes may ,be-made in the form constrmtion and arrangement of parts fromthose disclosed herein without in any way departing from the spirit of the invention orpsacrificing anyof the attendant advantages thereof, provided,

vhowever, that such changes fall within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

The invention is herebyclaimedas follows:

1. In a slicing machine .of the character described, a ,knife box casing,.a knife pulley rotatably disposed in ,said leasing, a motorrshaft pulley, an idler pulley assembly disposed Within said casing and includinga pair of idler pulleys op rative y co ne t d together fo rota io ,i unison, a belt connecting said motor shaft-pulley and on o se d dle nu e sr-a belt,.:. qnn n said knife pulley and the other idlerpulley, \a movable support on which said idler pulley assembly is rotatably mounted, means withinsaid knife box upon which said support is borne in sliding and pivotal relationship, and ,means yieldingly urging said support in a directionhaving vectorial components capable of applying tension to both of said beltsby movernents of the idler pulleys away from the pulleys with which they are. respectively-- connected.

ine t 9n o es de of s id dl ul y:-.as e,mb y;is

adapted to bear in sliding and pivota 1f1aj nship with respect thereto, and means connected to said support at a point on the other side of said idler pulley assembl for yieldingly urging the support in a direction tending to apply tension to both belts and cause the support to bear against said abutment.

3. In a slicing machine of the character described, a knife box casing, a knife pulley rotatably disposed in said casing, a motor shaft pulley, an idler pulley assembly disposed within said casing and including a pair of idler pulleys operatively connected together for rotation in unison about a common axis, a belt connecting said motor shaft pulley and one of said idler pulleys, a belt connecting said knife pulley and the other idler pulley, a movable support on which said idler pulley assembly is rotatably mounted, an abutment in said knife box against Which a portion of said support on one side of said axis is adapted to bear in sliding and pivotal relationship with respect thereto, and means connected to said support at a point on the other side of said axis for yieldingly urging the support in a direction tending to apply tension to both belts and cause the support to bear against said abutment.

4. In a slicing machine of the character described, a knife box casing having a bottom wall, a knife pulley rotatably disposed in said casing, a motor shaft pulley, an idler pulley assembly disposed within said casing and including a pair of idler pulleys operatively connected together for rotation in unison about a common axis, a belt connecting said motor shaft pulley and one of said idler pulleys, a belt connecting said knife pulley and the other idler pulley, a movable supsaid supporting plate and designed for sliding engagement With a portion of the lower side of said supporting plate on one side of said axis, means providing a sliding support for the upper side of said supporting plate on the other side of said axis, and means yieldingly urging said support in a direction having vectorial components of motion capable of applying tension to both of said belts by movements of the idler pulleys away from the pulleys with which they are respectively connected.

5. In a slicing machine of the character described, a knife box casing having a bottom wall, a knife pulley rotatably disposed in said casing, a motor shaft pulley, an idler pulley assembly disposed within said casing and including a pair of idler pulleys operatively connected together for rotation in unison, a belt connecting said motor shaft pulley and one of said idler pulleys, a belt connecting said knife pulley and the other idler pulley, a substantially flat supporting plate on which said idler pulley assembly is mounted, said pulleys being disposed on the upper side of said supporting plate, means providing a bearing surface below said plate on the bottom wall of said casing and upon which said plate is adapted to abut in sliding relation, means providing a second bearing surface above said plate and upon which the plate is adapted to slide, and means yieldingly urging said support in a direction having vectorial components of motion capable of applying tension to both of said belts by movements of the idler pulleys away from the pulleys with which they are respectively connected.

6. In a slicing machine of the character described, a knife box casing having a bottom wall, a knife pulley rotatably disposed in said casing, a motor shaft pulley, an idler pulley assembly disposed within said casing and including a pair of idler pulleys operatively connected together for rotation in unison, a belt connecting said motor shaft pulley and one of said idler pulleys, a belt connecting said knife pulley and the other idler pulley, a pivot pin projecting upwardly from said bottom wall and designed for sliding engagement with an edge of a supporting plate on one side of said idler pulley assembly, and a spring connected to said plate at a point thereon on the opposite side of said idler pulley assembly for urging said supporting plate into engagement with said pivot pin and consequently for applying tension to both of said belts through the media of said idler pulleys.

7. In a slicing machine of the character described, a knife box casing having a bottom wall, a knife pulley rotatably disposed within said casing, a motor shaft pulley, a pair of idler pulleys within said casing operatively connected together for rotation about a common axis, a floating supporting plate for said idler pulleys having a bottom surface thereof slidably supported on said bottom wall, said idler pulleys being disposed on one side of said plate, a belt connecting said motor shaft pulley with one of said idler pulleys, a belt connecting said knife pulley with the other idler pulley, an abutment projecting upwardly from said bottom wall and disposed exteriorly of the angle subtended by lines passing through said idler pulley axis and the axes of said other pulleys, said abutment being designed for sliding engagement with an edge of said plate, and spring means bearing against said plate and normally urging the same in a direction having vectorial com ponents capable of applying tension of both of said belts.

8. In a slicing machine of the character described, a knife box casing having a bottom wall, a knife pulley rotatably disposed within said casing, a motor shaft pulley, a pair of idler pulleys within said operatively connected together for rotation about a common axis, a floating supporting plate for said idler pulleys having a bottom surface thereof slidably supported on said bottom wall, said idler pulleys being disposed on one side of said plate, a belt connecting said motor shaft pulley with one of said idler pulleys, a belt connecting said knife pulley with the other idler pulley, an abutment projecting upwardly from said bottom wall and disposed exteriorly of the angle subtended by lines passing through said idler pulley axis and the axes of said pulleys, said abutment being designed for sliding engagement with an edge of said plate, spring means bearing against said plate and normally urging the same in a direction having vectorial components capable of applying tension to both of said belts, and means on said casing overlying said plate and providing a bearing support for a portion of the upper surface thereof.

CORNELIS KIJNGENS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 833,979 Sandell Oct. 23, 1906 2,372,342 Smith et a1. Mar. 27, 1945 

